A guide to the best
and sometimes off the
beaten track historical
ruins around Ireland and
how to get there.

Monday, 19 June 2017

Knockmaroon Cromlech Co Dublin

Above Image: Pathway up to the site

Above Image: Eastern aspect

Above Image: Western aspect

This small but significant cromlech (or kist) was accidently discovered in
1838 when a renovation of the Phoenix park was taking place. The workmen who
discovered it were charged with the removal of a mound which turned out to be
an ancient tumulus standing 15 feet high and 120 feet in circumference.on which the cromlech was positioned. It would date sometime between 2500BC to 1700BC.
The Royal Irish Academy at the time investigated it and removed two human
skeletons and a number of other items including a flint arrowhead. This is
reckoned to be the smallest of this type of burial chamber in the country. The
name given to the monument is usually Knockmary as it is positioned beside
Knockmary keeper's lodge and the area outside has the name Knockmaroon both are
derivations of the name Knockmaridhe. It is tucked away from sight and wouldn’t
really make itself aware unless sought out. I had a general idea where it was
located from an old ordnance survey map so I set out one day to seek it out. I
was driving so I entered the park from the Chapelizod gate and once I spotted
the Knockmary lodge up on the hill I just parked on the grass verge at the
bottom and walked up the pathway towards the lodge. The lodge is surrounded by a
fence and you just need to follow the fence around to the right where you will locate
the cromlech. To be fair it has been damaged in the past mostly by people knocking parts off as souvenirs and there are signs that a large crack in the centre of
the capstone has been repaired but not entirely successfully sometime in the past.
The capstone is believed to be made of bedrock extracted from the River Liffey. A large more modern block props up the large
capstone on one side where the original stone has either been removed or was damaged
and replaced. The burial chamber is underground leaving the rest of this tomb
standing on grass but this is nonetheless an interesting piece of ancient
history which goes generally unnoticed.
To find the cromlech enter the park by the Chapelizod gate and a few metres in you will reach a T-junction with Upper Glen Road. Turn left and follow the road .You will pass two signs pointing right into gateways, one for St. Mary's Hospital the other for Cheshire home. Approx 100m past the second sign you will see the small pathway leading up the hill. You can park on the grass verge at the bottom.If on foot you can also access by way of a laneway in Chapelizod village that lies beside the Newsagent/Post office. A small pedestrian gate at the bottom of the lane leads into the park directly opposite the hill with Knockmary lodge visible on top.